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To test the waters, we started dipping-our-feet in a new ministry—the Heart of Parenting. Not that we are experts; but simply we have more years tucked away. Parenting is a never-ending learning as each child is unique and goes through seasons-of-life differently. For certain though, we know where to point the new daddies and mommies.

Life is too short to do life alone. There is much to learn from history, autobiographies, and others. What more from the wisest man who ever lived? The life of Solomon is an interesting study. The book of 1 Kings begins with the death of King David and the reign of his son, Solomon.

Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her into the city of David . . .¹ Did Solomon err in doing so? Did he know God’s statutes? Or was he too young to know? What was his motive for doing so? Did he accomplish his goal? What was the consequence for his action? These are typical questions that may arise. Later in his old age Solomon wrote, What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.²

Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places.³ The exception looks oxymoronic, doesn’t it? What is God’s standard of love? What is the evidence of love? Asking the right questions is like having solved 50% of the question—already we are directed.  The Jews used the word Shema⁴ to mean both hear and obey.
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children . . .”⁵ Meaning love God with your all. Then Jesus reiterates the same command only adding with your mind.⁶ He emphasized the need for love and structure—spirit and truth.⁷ It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, . . .⁸

At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on this throne this day. . . although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. . . Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern your great people?”⁹ Solomon in humility acknowledged his need for a savior. Only then could God intervene to help and graciously give him more than he asked for.

It pleased the Lord that Solomon asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according you’re your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”¹⁰

God’s promises may come with a premise. Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.¹¹ BUT even now Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, he with me.¹²